The Adventure Club Afloat eBook

“No, she’s turned and run inside back
of the breakwater. Keep your ears and eyes open
for that whistling buoy, Phil. I want to pass
it to port.”

“It’s pretty near. There it is now!
Look!”

“I’ve got it! All right. Now
it’s straight for the white beacon.”
Steve sighed relievedly. “No use hurrying
any longer, I guess.” He eased the throttle
back and the Adventurer slowed her pace.
“Have a look at the chart, Harry. Isn’t
there a buoy near the end of the breakwater?”

“Yes, a red spar buoy.”

“What’s the depth just inside?”

“Four fathoms, shoaling to one.”

“Good enough. We’ll drop anchor just
around the breakwater and train the searchlight across
the channel. I don’t believe, though, they
intend to run out again before morning. All I’m
afraid of is that they swung off when darkness came
and are sneaking around the Cape.”

“I’ll bet anything we’ll find her
at anchor when daylight comes,” replied Harry.
“She had only enough gas for seventy miles, and
she’s gone about sixty at top speed. We’ve
got her, Steve. Don’t you worry.”

“Hope so. Get your bow anchor ready, Han,
and stand by to heave. When you let go make as
little noise as you can. I’m going to turn
the lights out, fellows, so don’t go messing
about or you may walk overboard. Switch them
all off below, Ossie, will you? If those chaps
have anchored just inside the breakwater there’s
no sense in letting them know that this is the Adventurer.
Got your anchor ready, Han?”

“Ay, ay, sir!”

“All right. Don’t let your windlass
rattle. Keep quiet, fellows.” Suddenly
all the lights on deck save that in the binnacle went
out, leaving the boat in darkness. Nearby the
red flash of the lighthouse glowed periodically, while,
ahead, shone the white beacon. In silence the
Adventurer drew nearer and nearer to the latter,
put it abeam and then swung to starboard. “Let
her go, Han,” called Steve softly. Those
on the bridge deck heard the faint splash of the hundred-pound
navy anchor as it struck the water. Han crept
back and swung himself down to the bridge.

“All fast, sir,” he reported.

Somewhere in the darkness at the head of the harbour,
where tiny pin-pricks of light twinkled, a town clock
struck two.

CHAPTER XII

WHAT STEVE SAW

Waiting was weary work after that. It was two
hours and a half to sunrise and, since two of their
number were sufficient to keep watch, the others presently
went below and napped. Steve and Bert Alley remained
on deck. Steve, although he perhaps needed sleep
more than anyone, refused to trust other eyes than
his own, and while darkness lasted he watched the
white path cast across the water by the Adventurer’s
searchlight. But darkness and silence held until
shortly after four, when the eastern sky began to